May 22 | The Fool and Their Vomit

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 2

Scripture | Proverbs 26:11, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.”

Lesson 22 | The Fool and Their Vomit

Have you ever watched a dog eat its own vomit?  I have and it’s totally disgusting. The dog ate it up and didn’t seem to mind at all that it was its own puke.

King Solomon in the above proverb is making the comparison between a fool and a dog that eats it own vomit.  The fool’s folly is comparable to the disgusting nature of puke.  And as the dog returns to eat its own puke the fool is seen as someone who will repeat the same disgusting act over and over again without feeling any sense of shame because like the dog, the fool in their very nature is disgusting. 

Peter uses this same Proverb in 2 Peter 2:22 but also adds the pig as an example of the fool in sin, “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”  In other words, just like how the dog feels no shame in eating its own vomit, the washed pig feels no wrong in returning to its mire (mud and feces).

The lesson is simple, “don’t be like a fool who keeps repeating their folly.”  Yes it is true that God will forgive all your sin and be patient with you.  However, do not use the grace of God as a license to continue in sin.  Whenever you sin your heart should be always willing to never do it again.  True repentance that brings forgiveness comes with humility to change.  Otherwise, you become like that dog who continues to eats it own puke and never feels any shame. 

Therefore, make a decision today to not continue in any sin or folly.  Ask God to deliver you from all temptation (vomit). You can live righteous because when you were born again you were made righteous! 

Reflection | Do you like to repeat your sins, i.e., “eat your own vomit?”   

Action | (1) Identify any sins that you continue to do. (2) Ask the Lord to set you free from the habit of all sins. (3) Lastly, allow the Holy Spirit to keep you from eating your own vomit, i.e., “repeating your same sins over and over again.”

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | 2 Samuel 1:1-2:11, John 12:20-50, Psalm 118:19-29, & Proverbs 15:27-28.  Click here to read online.